Feeling the Economic Pinch? Grow Your Own Vegetables!

As mentioned in today's New York Times article, "Banking on Gardening," by Marian Burros, "a growing number of Americans, driven by higher grocery costs and a stumbling economy, have taken up vegetable gardening for the first time. Others have increased the size of their existing gardens."

The article also noted, "Space in community gardens across the country has been sold out for several months. In Austin, Tex., some of the gardens have a three-year waiting list." (Emphasis added)

Even if you have a small space, you can grow enough vegetables to offset today's high food costs. Green Corn Project's gardens are 50 square feet (4' x 12.5'), and you can grow plenty of vegetables in a space half that size. All you need is six hours of sunlight, good soil preparation (double-digging is best), compost, seeds, and plants.

GCP's biointensive method uses less water and requires less maintenance than traditional vegetable beds. If you'd like to see an example of our practices in action, check out garden on Lady Bird Lake, on the northern shore, just west of the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge.